The night air in Zutopia was cool and still as Hsuya landed lightly outside the Noxford Manor. He had used his mana to glide the last stretch, making sure no one saw him. The window to his room was still open, just as he had left it. He pushed it wider and slipped inside without a sound. The three girls followed right behind him—Ren, Zena, and Shina.
Their eyes grew wide the moment they stepped into the grand room. The big bed, the velvet chair that looked like a throne, the paintings on the walls that glowed under candlelight—it was all too much for them.
"This... this is where you live, my lord?" Ren whispered, her voice full of wonder. She looked around like she might break something just by breathing too hard.
Zena and Shina stayed close to each other, tails twitching nervously. The beastfolk twins had never seen anything so fancy in their lives. "It is like a king's home," Zena said softly. Shina just nodded, eyes big.
Hsuya closed the window quietly and locked it. He pulled off the black mask that covered half his face and let the mana robe fade away into nothing.
Hsuya was a young man a bit higher than average height with neat black hair cut in a simple straight style that was not too fancy — just enough to look clean and unremarkable. His face stayed calm and expressionless as always, with sharp dark eyes that always looked slightly tired.
The three girls couldn't help but stare for a moment. Ren's emerald-green eyes widened slightly in surprise, while Zena and Shina's golden eyes showed clear admiration mixed with a bit of shyness. Seeing their savior's real face without the mask made their cheeks turn a light pink.
Underneath, he wore the simple crimson uniform Kael had given him earlier. He walked over to the throne-like chair and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. His face stayed calm, like always. No big smiles, no loud words.
"Sit," he said, pointing to the chairs near the small table. The girls obeyed at once, perching on the edges like they were afraid to get too comfortable.
"You must want to know where you are right now and who I am, right?"
"Yes, my lord!" all the girls shouted at the same time with curiosity in their eyes.
"Then listen carefully."
He leaned back a little, voice low and steady. "My real name is Hsuya..." Then he explained everything to them, from the Kingdom of Dian to being the main lord of the Noxford Estate. But he didn't mention anything about his system or Earth.
The girls listened without moving. Ren's eyes shone with awe. Zena and Shina held hands tightly.
After that, he also explained his goal and about their jobs.
Ren dropped to one knee right away. "Yes, my lord. I have no home, no past. I will follow you forever." Zena and Shina nodded together doing the same thing. "We will serve you," Zena said. "You saved us. We owe you everything."
Hsuya gave a tiny nod. That was enough. He could see the loyalty in their eyes. But he could not keep them here tonight. The servants would talk if three strange girls appeared at midnight. And he could not sleep with them in the same room. It was not safe or smart.
"Change of plan," he said calmly. "We are going to another place for a few hours."
He stood up and raised his hand. "Nox. Open the portal to my house on Earth."
[Yes, master.]
A ripple of blue light appeared in the middle of the room. The girls gasped. The portal looked like a door made of water and stars. Hsuya stepped through first. The air smelled like home—faint dust and old books.
"Come," he called from the other side.
The girls stepped through one by one. Their mouths fell open. They stared at the clean white walls, the electric lights, the soft carpet under their bare feet. The television on the wall, the kitchen with its shiny fridge—everything looked like magic to them.
Ren fell to her knees. "My lord... we are not worthy enough to spend a night in such a place like this. This must be the home of a god."
Hsuya smirked just a little and said, "It is just a house. You are safe here. No one will find you."
Then he showed them the bathroom next. It was small but clean, with white tiles and a big shower. He pulled out some of his mother's old clothes from a drawer—simple dresses and pants that would fit them well enough. "Wash up. These are for you. Take your time."
The girls nodded and went inside. Hsuya closed the door and waited in the living room. A minute later, he heard a surprised yelp. Water started pouring loudly from the shower. Shina had turned the handle by mistake. She came running out half-wet, eyes wide with fear.
"I am sorry, my lord!" she cried, bowing low. "I touched the metal thing and water fell from the sky! I did not mean to waste it!"
Zena followed, looking scared too. She even tasted a drop of water from her hand. "It must be water of eternity, my lord. Please forgive my sister. You can punish me instead of her. She is young and does not know better." Thankfully, both of them had their clothes on.
Hsuya smirked again, but his voice stayed calm and patient. "It is not magic. It's just water. The water is clean and safe. Use it to wash. Soap is there too. It makes you smell nice. Go back inside and finish. I will wait."
The girls blinked, still confused but trusting him. They went back in. Hsuya heard the water running again, this time with careful giggles and whispers. He sat on the couch and closed his eyes for a moment. The house felt quiet after the noise of Alexia.
When they came out twenty minutes later, they looked fresh and new. Their hair was wet and combed. They wore his mother's old clothes—simple tunics and pants that fit okay. Hsuya had heated up the food he cooked that morning before school—rice, some vegetables, and grilled chicken he had made quickly. It was nothing special to him, but he put three plates on the table.
"Eat," he said.
They sat down and took the first bites. Their eyes widened. Tears started falling down their cheeks as they chewed.
"This... this is food that gods eat," Ren whispered, crying softly. "So warm. So full of taste. I have never eaten anything like it."
Zena nodded, tail wagging. "It is like eating sunshine." Shina ate faster, small happy sounds coming from her.
Hsuya watched them without saying much. He ate his own share quietly. When they finished, every plate was clean. He showed them the spare room with two beds. "Sleep here. We leave early. Rest well."
The girls bowed again. "Thank you, my lord," they said together.
Hsuya went to his own room and lay down. He thought about school tomorrow. Going or not? Alexia time moved twice as fast as Earth time. Two days there were only one day here. If he stayed away too long, things might happen without him. But he needed rest. He closed his eyes and slept, but not for long—just a few hours. His mind stayed sharp even in sleep.
When he woke up, the sky outside was still dark. He did not feel tired. "No school today," he decided out loud. He walked to the girls' room and knocked once. "Wake up!" he called, voice firm but not loud.
They jumped up right away, eyes clear. "We are ready, my lord," Ren said.
Hsuya opened the portal again, this time aiming for the stable behind the Noxford Manor. Blue light filled the room. They stepped through. Cool morning air hit them. The sun was just rising over the hills of Dian. Birds sang in the distance. It was still early morning in the kingdom, just like he wanted.
"Stay here in the stable," Hsuya told the girls. "Hide behind the hay. Do not come out until I return. I will bring clothes for you."
They nodded and slipped into the shadows. Hsuya walked straight to the main building. Kael was already in the hall, waiting like a loyal dog. The moment he saw Hsuya, he bowed deep, forehead almost touching the floor.
"Good morning, my lord," Kael said, voice full of respect.
Hsuya stopped in front of him. "First, tell me about my mother. How is she?"
Kael kept his head down. "The healers worked all night, my lord. Her bruises are fading. She is resting now. She will be completely healed in a week if they keep giving her potions."
Hsuya nodded once. That was good enough for now. "Next question. Does the Noxford family own any big, empty land in a remote area? Somewhere far from the town. A decent house or at least a hut where people can live quietly."
Kael answered without hesitation. "Yes, my lord. On the eastern side of the Noxford Estate there is no house, but there is an old, unused dormitory. It belonged to the knight order of the kingdom many years ago. They moved away and left it behind. The land is large, hidden by trees, and no one goes there anymore. It has walls, rooms, and even a training yard."
Hsuya's eyes stayed calm, but inside he felt satisfied. "It's even better," he said quietly. A secret base for his new organization. Perfect for training, hiding, and planning. No one would suspect a thing.
"Tell me the exact location," Hsuya ordered. Kael gave clear directions—follow the east road for twenty minutes, then turn left at the broken stone marker.
"Now arrange clothes for me and for three women. Simple but good ones. Bring them to me right away."
Kael bowed again. "Yes, master!" He hurried off without a single question. A few minutes later, a servant brought a fresh set of clothes for Hsuya—clean and simple. Hsuya changed quickly in his room. Then he went back to the stable.
The girls were waiting exactly where he left them. He handed them the new clothes Kael had prepared—plain but sturdy dresses and cloaks easy to move in and not too fancy. "Put these on," he said. "We are going somewhere."
They changed fast behind some hay bales. When they stepped out, they looked like normal travelers. No one would notice them. Hsuya led the way out of the stable and into the dormitory's path. Birds flew overhead. The girls walked close behind him, excited but quiet.
After twenty minutes of walking, they reached the broken stone marker. Hsuya turned left. The path was overgrown with grass and vines, but it was still clear enough. Trees grew tall on both sides. After another ten minutes, the old dormitory appeared ahead.
But when Hsuya saw it, he stopped. He did not expect the condition to be like that...